Meng Huaining checked it and then ordered: "Meng An, the Cui family is here, let's read it!"
Meng An took out a thick stack of paper from his arms, stood in front of the Cui family and read it.
"Cui Fugui, the leader of the Cui clan, was a senior official in Xiling Village. He used his nephew Cui Wen's relationship to extort 25 acres of fertile land from the Zhao and Zhou families, squeezed the Zhao and Zhou families into doing white labor, and allowed the clan members to take advantage of them by force. Robbery.
Now that the evidence is conclusive, the county magistrate, considering his advanced age, exempts him from the 50-year-old punishment. Starting today, he will be imprisoned for ten years..."
As soon as Meng An finished speaking, the Cui family members began to cry and howl.
"Sir, we were wronged..."
"Shut up, everyone." With the crisp sound of several whips falling on people, the Cui family's cries suddenly stopped.
Seeing that the surroundings were quiet, Meng An continued to read:
"From now on, within three days, Cui Fugui will compensate the Zhao and Zhou families for the loss of 280 taels of silver."
As for compensating other people, there was no need for him to read it here. In other words, the Cui family needed to compensate not only what they heard.
Now, the Cui family was not calm again.
Two hundred and eighty taels, where can they get so much money?
"Sir, please do me a favor. Now that the old man is in jail and my sons have not come back, we are the only old and weak women and children at home, and we cannot afford so much money..."
Meng An sneered and glanced at the old woman who was shouting. From her tone, she should be Cui Fugui's mother-in-law.
"Don't worry, there are still fines for your sons. You can prepare them together when I finish talking."
When the old woman heard this, she suddenly lost her breath and fainted.
Seeing this, several daughters-in-law quickly supported him and knelt in front of Meng Huaining, crying and begging.
However, the Cui family has sinned so deeply that no matter how pitifully they cry, they will not be forgiven.
The officials stepped forward to maintain order without Meng Huaining's orders. After the women did not dare to cry, Meng An continued to announce to the public the punishment received by the Cui family.
Cui Fugui's sons also did many bad things. In addition to the punishment of imprisonment, they also had to compensate the Zhao and Zhou families one hundred taels.
None of the other members of the Cui family who have done bad things will be spared. Those who are imprisoned will be compensated.
This news was a huge relief to the Zhao and Zhou clansmen.
Finally, they no longer have to be oppressed by the Cui family and can receive corresponding compensation.
Everyone knelt down towards Meng Huaining and kept shouting: "Master Qingtian..."
Judging from their posture, if the word "Long live" is not taboo, they will shout it several times.
Meng Huaining raised his hands towards the kneeling people and motioned them to get up.
"This is all within the scope of my responsibilities. You don't have to do this."
After finishing speaking, he loudly shouted in the direction of the Cui family: "If the fine is not paid within three days, your houses and land will be used to settle the matter."
The Cui family originally thought that they couldn't get the money anyway, and the county magistrate couldn't do anything to them.
As a result, the county magistrate was so decisive that he wanted to use their houses and land to pay off the debt.
Now the Cui family was completely dumbfounded. All the money they had obtained had been squandered bit by bit. Where could they get so much money to compensate them now?
If they do not pay compensation, they will have to sell their houses and land. How will they survive in the future?
Thinking of this, the Cui family members all knelt down towards Meng Huaining.
"My Lord County Magistrate, please have mercy. Please spare us..."
Meng Huaining looked at them coldly.
"If I had known that I would be punished today, I would be punished if I did something wrong."
After saying that, he shook off the sleeves of his official uniform and turned around to find Mo Jiuye.
"Brother Mo Jiu, Sister-in-law Jiu, it's still early today, wouldn't it be convenient for me to go to your house and disturb you?"
How could Mo Jiuye and He Zhiran refuse such a thing.
"Welcome."
Meng Huaining told the officials to do whatever they needed to do, and he took Meng An to the Mo family.
As soon as the county magistrate and officials left, the Cui family members went back to their homes one by one with mournful faces to think of ways to raise money. Seeing that there was no more excitement, the Zhao and Zhou clansmen also returned to their homes.
When Meng Huaining came to visit, the Mo family naturally had to treat him well.
Fortunately, He Zhiran had gotten a lot of fresh food from foreigners under the pretext of buying food from foreigners a few days ago, so there was no pressure to prepare a table of decent meals.
He Zhiran took the female family members to prepare meals, while Mo Jiuye and Mo Chuhan chatted with Meng Huaining in the room.
Meng Huaining looked at the place where the Mo family lived now. Although the house was a little dilapidated, it was good at being able to shelter from wind and rain.
"Brothers, are your family getting used to living here?"
"It's very good here. Except for the Cui family, the other two families are very easy to get along with. Compared with the disputes in the capital, this place is much more comfortable." Mo Jiuye said.
"Brother Ninth is absolutely right. I also yearn for such a life."
Meng Huaining spoke from his heart. If the whole family hadn't pinned their hopes on him, he wouldn't be too lazy to do things for such a fatuous emperor.
He looked at Mo Chuhan and asked, "When will the matters at Bage's house be settled? I just came to Yuncheng to take office, and the Yamen is short of manpower."
Mo Chuhan originally wanted to stay at home and help a bunch of his ninth brother and his wife.
But he also saw that Ninth Brother and Ninth Brother and Sister were very organized and had no need for him at all.
In this case, it is better to go to work in the yamen as early as possible. No matter how much, you can always make some income for the family. Moreover, the position of head catcher is considered a small boss in the yamen. With such an identity, you can always take care of the family.
"If Brother Meng needs it, I can go to work at any time."
Meng Huaining was overjoyed when he heard this: "In that case, Brother Bage, please report to the Yamen tomorrow. I'll ask Meng An to help you arrange everything."
"Okay, I'll be there on time tomorrow morning."
It was decided that Bage would go to work, and Mo Jiuye talked about the mountain top and the wastelands to the north again.
"Brother Meng, I still have something to trouble you with."
Meng Huaining said politely: "It's no trouble, just ask Ninth Brother if you have anything to do. As long as I can do it, brother, I will definitely help you."
"To be honest with Brother Meng, my wife and I have taken a fancy to the mountain behind the village and some wasteland, and want to buy it."
Meng Huaining knew that the Mo family had bought a lot of land from those villagers, and he personally helped with the procedures.
At that time, he was thinking that the Mo family only had a dozen people at most, and most of them were women. How could they buy so much farmland and cultivate it?
Not only that, the Mo family also bought so many abandoned yards.
In Meng Huaining's heart, there is no way to spend money like this even if he has a lot of money.
Later, he thought about it, and the Mo family might have planned to hire people to plant it when they bought so much land.
For example, in the houses of wealthy families, there is no one to take care of them. Aren't they all hiring people?
Therefore, the Mo family may have had this idea in buying so much land.
